Santa Rita, California. A seaside city most people could only ever dream of visiting. Of course, it's home to many big name talents from more glamorous scenes - There's Monsieur Lyndon Brunette, ever talented interior and fashion designer whose minimal, flowing designs have taken both scenes by storm. There are also talents like Miss Amberlyn Peach, the pop starlet best known for her hit album Over‚óäDrive. But young talents come and go at the drop of the hat. The older residents are here to stay. Among them is Mrs. Rosemary Peacock, CEO of Emperian, a conglomerate at every stage of the luxury transportation manufacturing and selling process, and her husband Mister Florian Boddy, the aging heir of the old Boddy fortune. Rosemary uses her vast fortune to look after three other family members - Florian's brother, Colonel Lionel Mustard, now retired from decades of service, the directionless son from Mister Boddy's previous marriage, Mister Forrest Green, and his new fiance, the unstable Miss Leona Scarlet. With as much as he tends to visit, though, Greyback State's Professor Oliver Plum may as well be a permanent resident.

Even with this many people living at the mansion, Mrs. Peacock is going to need a good amount of help in her home and business life. If she ever needs legal help, she may call on an old friend of the Colonel, SRPD's own Sergeant Flint Grey. If she ever needs any advice on risky manouvers, though, she'll likely call on the psychic Madame Celestinia Rose, a widely mocked move that has been instrumental in her success. But what of home life? Mister Boddy's ailing health has required them to get constant visits from celebrity physician Doctor Crowe Mandarin, and his new assistant, the meek but brillian Nurse Lillian Bluebell. And for everything else in between, there's Mrs. Maple White, the imposing yet ever faithful maid to the family. Yes, from the outside, everything seems just about perfect in this house.

This of course doesn't begin to touch on the trail of corpses these thirteen people tend to leave behind..._________________Stop winking at me, you oversexed Frenchman!

Last edited by Zoo977 on Fri Sep 16, 2016 10:24 am; edited 13 times in total

Yeah, so, I'm gonna take another stab at doing a mystery series! I have a lot to say about my latest project, so I'll separate everything into some bullet points below. But first, here's a map you'll all find very useful in your investigations.

Now, there are three things I want to say in advance.

1. This is the last thing I'm planning to do with One Long Night. And, by extention, Doctor Mandarin and Nurse Bluebell, most likely.

2. All of the solutions were randomized in advance. When another user here managed to make a 2/3 correct guess on a mystery I hadn't even posted yet, I realized that maybe my mysteries are a touch predictable. So before I wrote each mystery, I came up with the rough ideas, and wrote the mystery around whatever solution I got. So don't focus on what you might expect from me.

3. All of the work on this is done. Yeah, to make sure this wouldn't flop and fail, I decided to do all of the writing and graphical work for this in advance. All I have left are writing the answers to questions, which can't possible be done in advance, and some graphics compiling that is honestly so simple it doesn't matter as much as you'd think. This game is already over - I'm just waiting for you to play.

In short, I hope you all enjoy!_________________Stop winking at me, you oversexed Frenchman!

I'll post the first mystery some time tomorrow. For now, here's the teaser I'm going to do for each mystery - a silhouette of the victim, and a fill-in-the-blanks kind of guessing game. Can you figure out the six weapons? Here's a hint - Every set of six weapons was designed so all six weapons had one thing in common Just post your answers below - I'm curious to see what you all come up with!

Well, I have to admit, I'm surprised anyone guessed "Led Hold Trap." I'll be honest, the first episode is kind of the weakest in my opinion, so I put the weakest theme between this weapon set. Trust me, the rest are orders better than 'trisyllabic names.'

I need to bring up something - CluedoKid sent me a great suggestion for the floorplan. If I hadn't gone ahead and done all the writing, and if I was a less lazy person, I would have certainly taken this advice. But I'm not. So I won't.

CluedoKid wrote:

Just a small suggestion, and hopefully you will see what I am thinking on this one. I think you should swap out the Cellar and Chapel. It makes more sense to access a wine cellar from the dining room than it does from the gallery and ballroom.

As well, a small little chapel like that lends itself well to being connected to a ballroom (and gallery at that) as it would be a cherished location as the family's chapel room, with the continuing long halls and music leading from outside.

And as one final taster, right before I get into posting the first mystery, here's the art for the twelve main suspects we'll be rotating between.

Hello, ah... Detectives, right? Whoever you are, welcome to my house. Greyback Mansion... isn't she gorgeous? Yeah, I've spend my whole life building up to owning a mansion like this one. My old one was... fine, it was fine. But getting swallowed by the city and the smog was terrible for my health. Maybe now I'll breathe easier, huh?

I ain't gonna be breathing easy today, though. There was a murder today. A young woman, have you ever head of her? Mrs. Elinor Marigold? This is traditional, ain't it? Like the ribbon cutting ceremony for all out property? But I still want answers, and I'll need help.

I know that the murder happened in one of six ground floor rooms.
‚ĀÉWas it the Cellar...
‚ĀÉ...the Billiard Room...
‚ĀÉ...the Ballroom
‚ĀÉ...the Study...
‚ĀÉ...the Lounge...
‚ĀÉ...or was it the Conservatory?

And we also know she was killed with one of these weapons, found all around the house.
‚ĀÉWas she shot to death with a Revolver?
‚ĀÉBludgeoned with a Microphone?
‚ĀÉStrangled with a pair of Pantyhose?
‚ĀÉHacked with a Meat Cleaver?
‚ĀÉElectrocuted with a Frayed Wire?
‚ĀÉOr worst of all, mutilated with a Leg-Hold Trap?

Bah, I'm ahead of myself. Here's what happened that day. We'd just begun moving into our new house...

The residents of Greyback Manor had just arrived to their new estate. Mrs. Peacock and Mister Boddy stood at the gates, staring wistfully at their new house. Behind them were the Colonel, Miss Scarlet, and Mister Green, all equally amazed at their new house. This was nothing like the clumpy disaster Boddy has shown them months before on the same small island, just barely off the mainland. No, it's clear a lot of time and money had been put into renovating the old mansion's exterior to show off every lovingly carved detail in the vintage Victorian exterior. Maybe it was the soothing sound of the splashing waves, or the unclouded sun in just the right position in the sky, but something about that moment felt almost magical, like a fairy tale illustration brought to life.

Monsieur Brunette put his hands on his hips triumphantly. Confidence was key to showing off his abilities around people like the heads of this house. He spoke in what not many people knew was a fake french accent. "I followed every step of your instructions perfectly. Nothing is out of place."

"I don't like it."

Everyone was caught off-guard by Colonel Mustard's bluntness.

"Sailing to get to our house is a nuisance. We need groceries, cleaning help! We don't have to take a boat to get basic necessities!"

"That's why I'm here, sir." Mrs. White had been standing on the dock the whole time. But being as silent as she was, it could be surprisingly easy to miss her presence. "I can take care of the household needs, sir. Your physicians will be happy to look after your health."

"The land looks incredible!" Bluebell said, speaking to the size of the grounds. "I'm sure you can get all the exercise you need here."

Mister Boddy pulled out the key to the dock gates, and unlocked the entrance to the grounds.

The short walk brought them right into the courtyard, a length of land sprawling the whole width of the manor. The house chapel dominated the entire western side of the mansion, while the conservatory windows dominated the eastern side. At the center of the manicured courtyard was a statue of a woman in antiquated dress.

"Utterly gorgeous..." Mrs. Peacock almost said in a trance. "And you oversaw everything?"

Brunette simply smirked.

"You did an incredible job with the exterior." Mrs. Peacock lead the rest of the residents inside of the front doors. Only Colonel mustard stayed behind for a brief moment, distracted by a sound near the Conservatory windows.

"I'm certain I saw those bushes rustle..."_________________Stop winking at me, you oversexed Frenchman!

The entrance hall was stunning. The original house molding had been kept, but newly varnished. Unlike most of Brunette's designs, the house was strictly classical, a demand by Mrs. Peacock. It was an age old palette, dark maroon, rich mahogany and gold. Hard colors to forget. Brash, royal colors. Such were Mrs. Peacock's favorites.

Brunette was feeling very smug at this point. "Should I give the grand tour to the family?"

"I want to show Mrs. White around." Boddy said. Mrs. White was more than happy to comply.

"Come on, let's explore together!" Green said to his lover, brimming with excitement.

"Heh, alright~"

While Mrs. White, Nurse Bluebell and Mister Boddy entered the Chapel, Miss Scarlet and Mister Green ran into the lounge like a pair of excited children. Rosemary turned to face her decorator.

"Brunette, would you be willing to show me around the upstairs of the house?"

"My pleasure."

Brunette and Mrs. Peacock left, leaving the Colonel all alone. Maybe it was the new surroundings, or maybe he was just paranoid, but he could have sworn he was being watched..._________________Stop winking at me, you oversexed Frenchman!

The kitchen was nowhere near as fancy as the rest of the house, but retained the vintage charm of the rest of the house. Traditional black and white tiling and simple white walls. If it weren't for modern cooking equipment, it would have felt like the room was a relic of the past. Of course, the age wasn't the noteworthy thing about the room - that would be the cramped staircase in the back of the room, leading down into the basement.

Mrs. White followed Mister Boddy through the dining room entrance, and Bluebell followed behind them both. "And here's the servant's stairs." Boddy waved towards the side of the room.

Mrs. White balked. "In the kitchen, sir?"

"It was part of the original floor plans." Boddy said. He looked at the box on the cutting table. "Mrs. Peacock said she left you a gift. All of the cleaning supplies are downstairs. You can figure it out."

"Do you want to be shown-" Nurse Bluebell was suddenly cut off.

"I can walk around alone." Boddy said, leaving into the Gallery. Bluebell rushed after him anyways.

The abrupt exit left a mildly concerned Mrs. White. She wasn't very excited about having to carry all the cleaning tools upstairs whenever she needed to work, but Mister Boddy never thought ahead. She would figure it out in due time.

Maple started by opening the note on top of the old cardboard box-

Mrs. White, your service has been an honor for us. I understand that the other residents have been ailing from age, and I suppose I never thought to ask how your body has been doing. If you ever need any medical attention, you are just as welcome to Doctor Mandarin's help. We respect all the work you've done for us. I simply hope these will help with all of your duties.

Best wishes, Mrs. Peacock.

Inside the box was a gleaming set of high end kitchen knives - Very well crafted, and incredibly sharp. And right at the top of the box was a gleaming new cleaver.

The first thing anyone would notice about the ballroom upon entering was the eastern wall facing the rose garden. Most of the wall was taken up by massive, immaculately polished glass, providing guests with a full view of the rose garden - even the far-off gazebo, if they squinted a bit. Two doors in the center of the windows allowed free movement between the yard and the interior. Of course, Mister Green wasn't paying attention to the glass as much as he was the microphone stand next to the piano.

"Florian remembered...! This is great!" Mister Green was ecstatic at the thought of a place to practice - and more importantly, perform. That's all Mister Green really wanted. Attention.

"Come on, let's hear it!"

"H-huh?"

"A performance!" Scarlet draped herself across one of the chairs lining the walls of the room. "You said you've been practicing, right?"

Green was more talk, less do when it came to actually practicing. With trepidation, he turned on the microphone. He tugged the microphone off the stand dramatically to get right into his singing. "In-"

Before Mister Green finished the first word, his tugging tore the wire on the old microphone, leaving a frayed wire plugged uselessly into the wall.

This was not so much a hero being unfairly struck down as much as it was protection against an evil no man was worthy of suffering.

Green stood in place for a moment, unsure of how to react to his utter failure. Miss Scarlet giggled, and walked up to comfort her hubby. "That was amazing." She joked. "Just get rid of the singing, and it's perfect!"

"We can probably b-blame it on the movers, right?"

"Of course!" Miss Scarlet said, taking the microphone and putting it back on the stand. Her attention was then drawn to the frayed wire sticking out of the wall. "Hm..."

"What are you thinking?"

"I know what we can do to mess with everyone a little bit...!" Miss Scarlet grabbed the wire out of the wall socket, and rushed into the lounge._________________Stop winking at me, you oversexed Frenchman!

The lookout wasn't so much a lookout as much as it was a lounge with a telescope, but that's precisely what Mrs. Peacock requested. While Brunette looked onward, Mrs. Peacock was scanning the grounds.

"I'm more than impressed, Monsieur." Mrs. Peacock didn't stop scanning the grounds while she talked. "I had no idea you were so talented in interior design as well... I'm very happy with the results."

"You're lucky I was able to find so many openings." This was a total lie. Brunette's business had been running entirely on zeitgeist, and he was struggling to get half the clients he did mere months earlier.

"Yes, well... Excuse me, you said you would be our only guest?"

Brunette looked out the window. Mrs. Peacock could see the SRPD logo printed on a speedboat arriving at her docks unannounced. For a split moment, she thought she recognized the other guests. "It isn't possibly...? No, it couldn't be."

"Lyndon, please show the others around." Mrs. Peacock said, before hurrying down the stairs, and out the front door._________________Stop winking at me, you oversexed Frenchman!

Mrs. Peacock was in such a hurry to see these uninvited guests, she got there just as they were stepping off the boat. "I'm sorry, but this is private..."

Rosemary didn't expect either of the guests who had just arrived. There was Sergeant Grey, a man Colonel Mustard was very familiar with, and the rest of the house was mildly aquainted to. But the other guest was the pop star Miss Amberlyn Peach. Mrs. Peacock wasn't sure what to say.

"The pleasure's all mine." Mrs. Peacock gladly shook her hand. "But I must ask what you're doing here. This is our property now."

"Miss Peach's privacy has been invaded recently." The sergeant responded flatly. Rosemary had seen some word about it on the cover of those trashy celebrity gossip magazines. All kinds of leaked photos of Miss Peach's residence has been sent to the gossip media.

"And I suppose you both want to look around for this mystery woman?" Mrs. Peacock motioned towards the gate. "Feel free to look around."

The sergeant nodded his head. "Miss Peach, I-"

"I can handle myself, Sergeant. I'll just look around the yard a bit, and see if I find anyone." Before the Sergeant could react, Miss Peach was already darting through the courtyard. Mrs. Peacock turned to face the Sergeant.

Monsieur Brunette personally loved the billiard room most out of any of the rooms. There was something so elegant about billiards he couldn't put a finger on. All the bright colors should have been incredibly tacky, but there was simply something that worked that he loved.

The door to the library opened, and Brunette turned to face his guest. "I hope you've been enjoying the... house..."

There were many people Brunette was expecting. Maybe that maid, or the nurse, or anyone who had actually driven with them that day. He wasn't expecting a woman with blindingly red hair and one of her trademarked florescent orange outfits. The words escaped them both. This went beyond happenstance - it was nothing short of a miracle these two had met up again.

Nurse Bluebell needed Doctor Mandarin to be a good caretaker. Oh, she was incredibly talented! She was a brilliant woman! But she absolutely couldn't assert herself. So if Mister Boddy gets snappy and wants to look at the graveyard by himself, there's nothing she can do but let him go off alone. She could at least make sure he wasn't straining himself from the gazebo. She simply stood in the shade and waited.

And waited.

"Excuse me?"

Lillian just about had a heart attack at the sudden voice behind her. She almost had a heart attack again when she saw who it was talking to her. She when to say something, before Nurse Bluebell started pronouncing sounds.

Miss Peach just patted this mystery woman on the shoulder. "You're a fan, aren't you?"

"It's an h-honor!" The nurse's voice had gone from her normal gentle tone to a cracking, almost whisper-quiet garbles mess of syllables. Her mind went blank trying to figure out what to say.

"Aren't you precious!" Miss Peach joked. "I'm looking for a woman here. She had bright red hair, have you seen her?"

Nurse Bluebell thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, I - I'm having trouble thinking straight!"

"That's alright. Since you're a fan... Can I tell you a secret?" Miss Peach whispered. "Well not much of a secret any more, but look out there!"

Miss Peach pointed to the coast side visible to the east. Rows and rows of mansions in predominantly modern designs were visible, but especially grand estates lined the shore side. The harsh black mansion likely stood out like a sore thumb among all these white houses.

"The little white mansion over there?" She said, pointing at a vague area containing many very large white mansions. "That right there's where I live!"

"O-oh! I've seen those photos!" The nurse gazed out, before honing in on one house in particular. "It's almost... oh, it's almost the same angle as the leaked photos..."

When the nurse turned around, Miss Peach was no longer next to her. She was kneeling down at the far side of the structure, looking at a bright orange sports bag left abandoned by the edge of the surrounding shrubbery.

"I-I was looking through binoculars, and she had this same bag!" Peach said, shocked. "The woman who took those photos is here!"

Bluebell gasped, while Miss Peach quickly opened the zipper. She expected a few of the things she saw, such as a very nice camera, a tripod, and a pair of binoculars. But what she didn't expect to find was a stolen pair of her own pantyhose...

Mrs. Peacock was long past the point of asking the sergeant questions. She simply opened the door to the ballroom, and waved the good sergeant through, before leaving. The sergeant was used to seeing the colonel drinking, but never like this. He wasn't drinking wine, no - He was guzzling it.

"Sergeant?"

"Colonel, sir!" The sergeant yelled. "I'm here investigating for a young woman, sir!"

The sergeant attempted to sit casually, but didn't change his on-edge stance.

"If you're here, I need you to do some investigating for me." The colonel said. He was clearly very inebriated.

"And what would that be, sir?" He yelled.

"At ease!"

The sergeant shut up.

"I think someone knows exactly who I am."

The colonel had been serving his position as far back as the Vietnam war. He was very proud of his service, of all the confirmed kills... and all his enemies, when they weren't posing an immediate threat to him.